War chronicles

A round up of the first day of 2008 conflict in South Ossetia by the hour.

August 7

00:00 – 08:00 Starting from 23:40 August 6 Georgia began the bombardment of Tskhinval region of South Ossetia that has a common border with Georgia. Georgia was using artillery, mortars, grenade launchers and machine guns.

In the morning the first refugees began to arrive in the Rostov region of the North Ossetian Republic of Russia.

12:00 Russia accuses Georgia of preparing aggression against South Ossetia. In turn, Georgia demands that all Russian citizens and officials leave South Ossetia “to stop the confrontation”.

12:30 Georgia draws more troops, armoured vehicles and artillery to the border with South Ossetia.

14:30 South Ossetia reports first wounded

14:40 Georgian peacekeepers in South Ossetia start to leave their posts, referring to “an order from Georgian command”.

15:40 Georgia resumes bombardment of South Ossetian settlements, this time including suburbs of Ossetian capital Tskhinval.

15:48 Russian Foreign Ministry calls for ceasefire

16:38 Russia states that Georgia has launched full-scale military aggression against South Ossetia and prepares to host more refugees on its territory.

17:20 Gunplay continues throughout the Georgia – South Ossetia border.

18:20 Georgia pulls troops from the military bases inside the country to the districts bordering South Ossetia.

19:27 First dead reported in South Ossetia

20:54 The Deputy of State Secretary of the U.S. Daniel Freed informs that Russia and the U.S. agreed to work together on the resolution of the conflict in South Ossetia.

05:20 Tank columns of Georgian army advance towards Tskhinval, troops deploy in battle order for assault on Ossetian capital

05:56 Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Joseph R. Biden makes an official statement, in which he says that: “In view of Russia’s past provocative actions in South Ossetia… Moscow has a particular obligation to avoid further escalation of the situation”

06:12 Fierce shelling of the whole of Tskhinval, including Russian peacekeepers’ block-posts.

06:55 Georgia engages five SU-25 fighter-bombers for air strikes on Tskhinval and other Ossetian settlements

09:20 Georgia’s Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze says that Georgia would not stop until it “establishes peace in South Ossetia”.

09:29 Russia demands UN Security Council that holds a special meeting on the military actions in South Ossetia to intervene in the conflict between Georgia and South Ossetia

10:24 Georgia makes a proposal to South Ossetian authorities to surrender at discretion

11:09 Georgia announces nation-wide mobilization

11:27 Russia declares that it will protect its citizens in South Ossetia (most of the population of this republic has Russian citizenship)

12:05 EU demands immediate ceasefire in South Ossetia

12:15 U.S. calls for ceasefire and insists on direct talks between Georgia and South Ossetia

12:25 House to house street fighting in Tskhinval

12:47 Large number of Georgian tanks reported on the streets of Tskhinval

13:00 Thousands of refugees from South Ossetia flee to Russia

13:30 Georgia deploys Buk anti-aircraft missile system operated by Ukrainian servicemen near its military base in Gori

14:23 First ambulances with wounded due to conflict cross Russian border

14:58 Russian President Dmitry Medvedev declares that Georgia has committed an act of aggression against Russian citizens and Russia will retaliate

15:32 Russian 58th army passes Rocksky tunnel, the only link between Russia and South Ossetia, and is approaching Tskhinval for rescue operation

15:44 Georgian authorities called upon to stop “senseless rebellion”

15:56 South Ossetian militia brewed up several Georgian tanks on the streets of Tskhinval

16:03 Russian troops enter Tskhinval

16:56 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov informs about ethnic cleansings conducted by Georgia’s troops in occupied Ossetian villages and appeals to international community to pay closest attention to arms sales to Georgia

17:15 Georgia reports about gaining full control of Tskhinval and denies Russia bringing troops to South Ossetia

17:20 Georgia’s president Mikhail Saakashvili in his interview to CNN accuses Russia of waging war on Georgia

17:36 The head of Russian Foreign Ministry names the situation in South Ossetia a humanitarian catastrophe

18:00 Georgia’s Foreign Ministry appeals to international community “to bring to Russia’s attention that the invasion on the territory of a sovereign state is unacceptable”

18:05 Over 30 Russian peacekeepers reported dead

18:09 The president of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity says there are hundreds of dead in Tskhinval. He also said that the genocide of Ossetians on Georgia’s behalf is the third one over the last 100 years

18:41 Georgian troops begin withdrawal from Tskhinval

19:20 Russia stops direct flight connections to Georgia

19:32 Russian military air forces attack military bases and aerodromes inside Georgia